Bedtime routine

Carrie (my wife) is a high-maintenance sleeper. She needs all kinds of little things set up so she can get to sleep. I have become this way myself, recently, so I can't really rag on her too much about it.

Anyway, it should come as no surprise, then, that Myla is the same way...

The whole thing reminds me very much of the book Biscuit Goes to Bed, in which Biscuit the puppy begs for a bazillion things before he can go to bed ("Biscuit needs a drink. Woof! Biscuit needs a blanket. Woof Woof! etc.).

Here is Myla's bedtime routine:

0. Tell Myla it is almost time for bed.
1. Myla announces that we have to do everything for bedtime "in order."
2. She requests to share a soft pretzel. I think this is mostly a stalling tactic...
3. Change her into PJ's, including diaper, remove hair clip-y's, necklace. If she is felling frisky,
this will turn into a giggly game which I imagine to be much like roping cattle. The goal is to
get her clothes off and PJ's on without getting kicked in the gonads. All in good fun, actually!!
I have to admit I like this game, most of the time.
4. Read books - at least 2, sometimes 3 or 4. Not too fast! And no silly reading. She knows the
words to a lot of the books, so she will pop out with verbatim quotes at random intervals.
She knows all of the book names by the spine colors and fonts, and she has strong opinions
about what books she wants, so I often let her pick. If I don't like her selections (I like to read
actual stories with a plot, rather than counting books or whatnot, and I like the classics), I
insist on picking at least one book.
5. Get Myla's milk - fresh, in a sippy cup, with 3 ices. Sometimes she wants to put the ice cubes
in herself. Sometimes she asks for verification that there really are 3 ice cubes in the cup.
6. Myla requests a snack to bring up to bedroom, because "you wouldn't want me to be
hungry!" Usually a bowl of crunchy corn bran.
7. "Carry me upstairs" along with the white blankie (special one that Mary knitted for her),
plus animal of the night (its usually Tiger Boy these days).
8. "Please get me two binkies" Two are needed in case one gets lost in the bed during the night.
9. Turn on the two night lights - duck light, and also regular plug-in night light, and turn off the
other lights.
10. Close blinds.
11. "Please close the door." Rico is NOT allowed in Myla's room at bedtime - I asked her why
tonight and she told us it was because he bothers her by scratching and pulling her blankets
off :)
12. "Sleep with me for 3 minutes" which means lie down on the tiny little toddler bed right next
to her, but usually no hugging or other touching is allowed. Attempts to negotiate the time
downwards are met with stiff resistance (but, then again, she isn't that good at judging actual
time elapsed :)
13. "Give me a hug by the nightlight" Usually a very nice lap snuggle. Adult must sit with back
against the wall, legs flat, ankles crossed.
14. "Please put on the extra blanket"
15. "Put the flat part over my eyes!" Myla likes to have a blindfold when she goes to sleep
these days. She likes to have Mommy's sweatpants or such, and she likes to use the leg
(hence, flat part).
16. "Tuck me in!" Hug me, exchange kisses, and move the blankets around a little to make it
cozy.
17. "I need a tissue" We moved the box right into her room.
18. "Put Tiger Boy under the covers next to me" with his own "blanket"
19. "I need to go potty"
20. Back to bed.
21. "We forgot to brush my teeth!"
22. Back to bed.
23. "My tissue is smashy! Please give me a new one."
24. "Tuck me in again!"
25. Good night! Close door.
26. Sometimes she wakes up 20 mins to a few hours later, because she is "scared of dinosaurs"
or just sick (she got up and barfed at 11:30 the other night - I'll have to write about that
another time).

Boy, that's quite a list. We definitely indulge her somewhat, but I also really like the bedtime routine. I like that it takes a while, because it feels like quality time to me. I want her to be relaxed and happy when she goes to bed - it makes me feel happy, too.